The half-open flowers

Having got over that momentary wobble about the half open flowers on the Lotus Flower Coat, it was just a matter of carrying on, rows and rows of stitches in a variety of shades and thicknesses of thread.

I’ve kept to the same feather stitch and chain stitch variations for both of them, and I worked small facing sections in lighter shades – borrowed from the fully open flower – to suggest the inside of petals on the other side of the centre.

One of the flowers uses more purple and lilac tones, the other is more pinkish, still trying to create a certain balanced effect without symmetry. I worked a bit on each flower in turn until I was done, making the petals variations on each other, emphases not in quite the same place, patterns rippling slightly as they move across.

I’m very happy with the little channels of fabric showing around the edges of the petals. It’s a way of moving the design more towards a graphic and less towards naturalism – and let’s face it, there’s nothing very naturalistic about my stitchery! It also creates a lightness to the design which I think will be very suitable for a light spring and summer jacket.

I’m aware that the relatively dense stitching has created ripples in the fabric, but it’s quite loosely woven wool, and I’m pretty confident that once I’ve pressed or steamed it, all will be well.

I have to do the calyxes and the stems first, though. I have a few thoughts about that, but I’m not entirely sure it will work as I hope.

Watch this space, as they say….